Ketchikan Wildlife Viewing
Downtown Ketchikan

Ketchikan Creek flows through Downtown Ketchikan and fills with spawning salmon each July and August. The planks of Ketchikan’s famous Creek Street are a good spot to watch salmon swim upstream. Ketchikan Creek eventually passes by the Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery, a working salmon hatchery with daily tours in the summer. The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center is one of four Alaska Public Lands Information Centers, which are run as joint ventures between a variety of public entities to provide visitors with “one-stop shops” for information about Alaska’s public lands. The center has exhibits and interactive displays on the wildlife, habitats, Native cultures and modern industries of Southeast Alaska. There are also wildlife watching opportunities; use the center’s spotting scope to search the ridgelines above town for mountain goats, or spend a few minutes watching the live broadcast of spawning salmon from an underwater camera in Ketchikan Creek.

Species

Chinook (King) Salmon

Coho (Silver) Salmon

Hints

Stand on one of the bridges over Ketchikan Creek for good views of salmon struggling upstream.

Facilities

Hiking Trails

Interpretive Signs

Picnic Facilities

Public Transportation

Restrooms

Wheelchair Accessible

Within Walking Distance

Notes

There is a fee for the Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery and for the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center.

Plan to spend at least: 1 - 4 hours

Best Months

█ Best Month

January

February

March

April

Best Month May

Best Month June

Best Month July

Best Month August

Best Month September

October

November

December

Directions

The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center is at the corner of Mill and Main Streets. The entrance to Creek Street is near the museum and library at the intersection of Mill and Stedman streets. The Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery is on Salmon Street on the north end of downtown.